MONROE: Crash kills Monroe Township employee

By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
    MONROE — A holiday motorcycle crash claimed the life of a township employee Wednesday afternoon.
    Eugene Badger, 44, of Monroe, was pronounced dead at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick after suffering severe head and chest injuries, according to police.
    Police were dispatched to the area of 53 State Home Road around 4:50 p.m. Wednesday on a report of a motorcycle striking a utility pole.
    Police said Mr. Badger was driving a 2006 Harley Davidson motorcycle west with a female passenger, identified as Christine Badger, 44, also of Monroe, when he lost control entering a curve near the intersection of Spotswood-Gravel Hill Road.
    The motorcycle struck a guardrail on the northbound side of State Home Road and then struck the pole, ejecting both individuals, according to police.
    Arriving officers found both passengers of the motorcycle near the pole.
   ýPage=001 Column=001 OK,0027.09þ Mr. Badger had severe head and chest injuries and Ms. Badger had severe leg and shoulder injuries, according to police.
    Mr. Badger was flown to the hospital in a State Police LifeStar helicopter and Ms. Badger was taken by ambulance, according to police.
    Mr. Badger was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital, police said.
    Mayor Richard Pucci said Wednesday night that Mr. Badger worked in the township’s public works department.
    The township’s human relation’s director, however, would not verify that information Thursday.
    According to the Data Universe website, which lists federal and state employees, Mr. Badger worked for the township in 2010 at a salary of $36,306.
    Officer Sergeis Jangols of the Monroe Township Police Traffic Safety Unit is investigating the crash. The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office is also investigating.
    Anyone who witnessed this accident is asked to contact Officer Jangols at 732-521-0222, extension 260.